A fixture on the ocean-racing circuit since 1925, the Rolex Fastnet Race covers 608 nautical miles from Cowes to the Fastnet Rock, through the Solent and the Celtic Sea, before returning to finish off Plymouth. Photos: Rolex/Daniel Forster
By
Sailing World Staff
Updated: August 12, 2013
Spectacular Solent: the Rolex Fastnet Race fleet fills the water between the Isle of Wight and the mainland
SPINDRIFT 2, co-skippered by Dona Bertarelli & Yann Guichard prepares for the start of the 45th Rolex Fastnet
The mainly female-crewed SCA from Sweden punches through the Solent at the beginning of the Rolex Fastnet
2009 and 2011 Rolex Fastnet winner RAN 2 (GBR) following the race start
JOLIE BRISE (GBR), the winner of the 1925 race, celebrating her centenary
SPINDRIFT 2, the largest and fastest multihull, draws a crowd at the start of the 2013 Rolex Fastnet Race
The spray flies past KRASOTKA as the Russian yacht makes its way down the Solent
The Rolex Fastnet Race 2013 record breaking fleet passing by The Needles
ESIMIT EUROPA 2 (SLO) at the start of the Rolex Fastnet Race 2013
The largest and fastest monohulls pass Egypt Point following their start off Cowes
The Multihull class formed the first start of the 2013 Rolex Fastnet Race, including BANQUE POPULAIRE and EDMOND DE ROTHSCHILD – GITANA XV